Defining a spectrum of integrative trait-based vegetation canopy structural types.

Vegetation canopy structure is a fundamental characteristic of terrestrial ecosystems that defines vegetation types and drives ecosystem functioning. We use the multivariate structural trait composition of vegetation canopies to classify ecosystems within a global canopy structure spectrum. Across the temperate forest sub-set of this spectrum, we assess gradients in canopy structural traits, characterise canopy structural types (CST) and evaluate drivers and functional consequences of canopy structural variation.

Effects of canopy structure and species diversity on primary production in upper Great Lakes forests.

Canopy structure and tree species diversity, shaped by succession, disturbance, and community composition, are linked to numerous ecosystem functions, including net primary production (NPP). Understanding of how ecosystem structural metrics are interrelated and mechanistically link to NPP, however, is incomplete. We characterized leaf area index (LAI), Simpson's index of Diversity (D', a measure of species diversity), and canopy rugosity (R, a measure of canopy physical complexity) in 11 forest stands comprising two chronosequences varying in establishing disturbance, and in three late successional communities.

Raf kinases mediate the phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A and regulate its stability in eukaryotic cells.

We identified eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) Raf-mediated phosphorylation sites and defined their role in the regulation of eEF1A half-life and of apoptosis of human cancer cells. Mass spectrometry identified in vitro S21 and T88 as phosphorylation sites mediated by B-Raf but not C-Raf on eEF1A1 whereas S21 was phosphorylated on eEF1A2 by both B- and C-Raf. Interestingly, S21 belongs to the first eEF1A GTP/GDP-binding consensus sequence.

Polycomb group protein Bmi1 negatively regulates IL-10 expression in activated macrophages.

Macrophages exert a wide variety of functions, which necessitate a high level of plasticity on the chromatin level. In the work presented here, we analyzed the role of the polycomb group protein Bmi1 during the acute response of bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Unexpectedly, we observed that Bmi1 was rapidly induced at the protein level and transiently phosphorylated upon LPS treatment.

Beyond traditional cross couplings: the scope of the cross dehydrogenative coupling reaction.

The development of new and environmentally compatible methods for the synthesis of C-C and C-heteroatom bonds is of great significance to researchers. The cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) is emerging as an important tool for chemists with a variety of, often inexpensive, metal catalysts able to perform these reactions both regio- and enantioselectively. Perhaps more importantly CDC methodology has been shown to be extremely environmentally friendly and facile being able to be carried out in aqueous environments under an atmosphere of air.